The long-running musical commemorated two decades on Broadway November 5.

The Broadway production of Disney’s The Lion King concluded its 20th anniversary festivities with a surprise appearance and performance by Sir Elton John. Following the curtain call, the composer took the stage to the lead the cast in the Oscar-nominated opening number, “Circle of Life.”

Director-designer Julie Taymor, the creative team, and several members of the Disney Theatrical Productions family filled the Minskoff Theatre November 5 as the Tony-winning musical enters its third decade on Broadway. Among the attendees were cast members from Disney’s upcoming Frozen musical and two Tony-winning former Nalas: original Lion King star Heather Headley and Hamilton alum Renée Elise Goldsberry.

The Lion King opened officially at the New Amsterdam Theatre (currently the home of Disney’s Aladdin) November 13, 1997. It went on to earn six Tony Awards, including Best Musical and wins for Taymor’s direction and costume design. The musical subsequently transferred to the Minskoff in June 2006.

(L. Steven Taylor as Mufasa) Taymor says, “Obviously, Mufasa is the sun. That’s why you have the circle. He’s very much about symmetry and radiation—the sun god.” Watch Taylor get into character here.
Marc J. Franklin

Jelani Remy as Simba. “Simba and Nala are in that world of Mufasa,” of symmetry and circularity.
Joan Marcus

Adrienne Walker as Nala
Bruce Glikas/Playbill

Max Casella as Timon. “Timon is a meerkat, so he’s very skittish and fast,” says Taymor. “What we’re doing is a technique where Timon is attached—it’s more like something else in Japan, where one person is attached to the puppet.
Marcus Woollen/MTI

(Ben Jeffrey as Pumbaa) “Pumbaa is the belly,” says Taymor. “So the major part of his head is right there in front of him [on the actor], so he’s always wanting to eat.”
Joan Marcus

(Jeffrey Kuhn) “The man who is manipulating Zazu is dressed like a butler,” says Taymor. “So he’s a bird, but a butler. He’s got tailcoats, which is tail feathers. The bowler hat—it’s that British bowler comedian thing.”